Two Ornette Coleman songs and a Monk tune? Did I mention the died-and-gone-to-heaven bit already? It's hardly the first time we've heard Ornette mashed up, even to an extreme degree. Think of John Zorn's Spy vs. Spy record, where Ornette's back-catalog was set against a double metal trio including Joey Baron and Tim Berne. There have been plenty of nods to Monk, including a cover of "Epistrophy" by Jerry Gonzalez that we remember fondly. With plenty of precedent, Khan still manages to put a smile on your face with his take on "Chronology" and "Blues Connotation" from Ornette, and "Bye-Ya," one of our favorite Thelonious Monk originals. The band takes a clave to the swing inflections of the latter, taking it to a place that Monk never imagined. Thelonious would no doubt approve of the way Khan plucks out a cool and quirky solo over the rolling percussion section.
Other notable pieces on Parting Shot are "Influence Peddler," featuring lovely vocals by Andrés Beeuwsaert and Tatiana Parra. The band is joined by keyboard on only one song, and otherwise remains an "extended trio" with Kahn, Jackson, and Chambers as the core. These musicians are seasoned not only in the broad sense, but grew accustomed to playing together in the '80s as Eyewitness, where they were also joined by Badrena. Unlike so many get-together sessions where the musicians record a jam session and go back to life on the road, Parting Shot feels complete and practiced. Khan's originals showcase his ability to tap into traditional sounds, retaining a latin jazz or salsa feeling while still shining through with his unique style. Lyrical solos, solid comping, and interesting harmonies are the norm on this record. Parting Shot is a gift for percussionists, but students of guitar will find this an important link between older single-line solos and a modern style, not to mention some strong composing ability. Khan and his surrounding musicians are masters of their instruments, and the only thing better than listening to Parting Shot would be a chance to see this band play live.
